THE NANSEN SKI CLUB A LEGACY OF SERVICE

BY LOU DZIERZAK

In the early 1920s, members voted to change the name to honor Fridtjof Nansen, a 19th century Norwegian Arctic explorer and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Nansen is best known for leading the fi rst crossing of Greenland, on skis, in 1888 and exploring the region near the North Pole. In January 1929, Nansen’s visit to the city of Berlin and the club was greeted with welcoming ceremonies and a parade. Decades later, the Nansen name remains, but the club’s original mission has broadened to include people of all backgrounds interested in cross country skiing. “The club was organized to bring skiing to the next generation,” says Doug Huntley, club vice president. “Leane and I are both parents of kids we are teaching to ski. The club is not so much for the people who are in the club now, but to bring skiing to the next generation. That’s our focus.” The Nansen Ski Club was incorporated in the 1940s. Today, club offi cials are completing requirements to become a 501(c) 3 nonprofi t organization. Change is a constant in the club’s timeline. In 1936, in partnership with the city of Berlin and the National Youth Administration, the club built a 171-foot ski jump. The largest of its kind when it opened, the Nansen ski jump held that title in the eastern half of the United States for over 50 years. In 1938, the ski hill hosted the Olympic trials. The jump closed There are dozens of Nordic ski clubs in 1988. across the country that are dedicated to For many years, the club maintained a 40-kilometer trail bringing new people into the sport. But system on leased land. When the land was sold for use as only one can call themselves the “oldest a federal prison site, the club moved to Milan Hill State ski club in North America.” Founded in Berlin, , in 1872, the Nansen Ski Club is celebrating its 138th season of promoting cross country skiing. Leane Rexford, current club president, says, “Almost everybody we meet has a story about their personal or family experience with the ski club. My grandmother used to take me skiing out on the original trail with a Thermos of cocoa. We would spend the day out on the snow. We’re trying to continue that history with our kids.” Originally founded as the Berlin Mills Ski Club, the organization was formed by Norwegians to promote home-country culture and Nordic skiing. Members spoke their native language at meetings and initially membership was limited to male Scandinavians living in Coos County, New Hampshire.

30 CCS | NOV 2010 Park, about seven miles from town. and are attracting new members,” or boots to give skiing a try without any Membership dipped from over 300 to Huntley says. rental fees. below 100, but is rebuilding. Moving to the John Morton-designed Every winter on the Saturday of a Huntley says, “A lot of people trail system in the full moon, the club hosts a nighttime assumed when they built the prison on required some outreach. “A lot of people ski event and invites as many kids as top of our property that we were done. needed some convincing,” says Huntley, they can gather. A telescope lets the We’ve been slowly combating that and “The John Morton-designed trail is a kids explore the night ski, weather we’re seeing growth again. People are used as a training trail for Olympians. permitting. Rexford notes, “We’ve always excited when they understand A lot of people who aren’t Olympians skied in snowstorms and below zero we are still here.” fi nd that a little intimidating. As we got temperatures.” The club does not charge members more people up there, the word spread Clubs in other parts of the country may any fees and relies on donations to fund that it’s not something to be afraid of, claim an earlier start, but there seems to trail maintenance, grooming and an it’s something you can have fun on.” be no debate that the Nansen Ski Club equipment locker. The club skis on trails that get snow is the oldest continually operating club Rexford says, “We are the poorest early in the season and remain open in the United States. county in the state. We get a lot of great until late March or early April. Retired “Being called the oldest ski club in support from our members but we are club members volunteer their time the United States is something special,” also sensitive to the fi nancial diffi culties and expertise to groom the trails with Huntley says.” We have a responsibility of the times and this region.” a Bombardier 180 snowcat the club to the people in the past and a Members range from toddlers learning purchased from the Salt Lake City responsibility to the area for the future. to ski to local teenagers wandering around Olympic committee after the 2002 This is one of the jewels of the area the trail on no-wax skis. The club’s oldest Winter Games. and we need to nurture and protect it. member is in his 80s and once competed Attracting new members is at the top We’re trying to build some excitement on the ski hill. of the current offi cers’ to-do list. Offering in an area that hasn’t been focused on “The last four years have been a lessons to kids and school groups is a top cross country skiing in the last 10 or 20 rebuilding and rebranding of the club. priority. An equipment locker managed by years.” Now we have come out the other side the club allows people without skis, poles

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